Bell-cord hanger



Dec. 18 1923,

. J. ECKERT BELL CORD HANGER Filed March 25 1925 -FEIL,

INVENTOR.

4%" ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 18, 1923.

rarest can.

JOSEPH ECKERT, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE DAYTON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, DIE DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPOBATIQN (3F OHIO.

BELL-CORD HANGER.

Application filed March 23, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrrr Eonnn'r, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful llmprovements in Bell-Cord Hangers, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of my 36 specification.

My invention relates to bell cord hangers adapted for use in railway cars and to be suspended from the ceilings thereof. The invention has for its object to provide novel and improved means whereby the portion of the hanger extending below its base is permitted to swing in either of four opposite directions, its movement being substantially limited to lengthwise and crosswise of the car body, to compensate for the sway and pull of the bell cord or rope which passes through the eye at the lower end of the hanger. Further objects being to sim plify the construct-ion, reduce the cost of manufacture and increase the durability and efficiency of bell cord hangers of the class to which my invention belongs. To these ends my invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which constitute a part of this specification and in which Figure 1 represents the devicein elevation, its movable portion being shown in full lines and in dotted lines at opposite angles to the center vertical line of its fixed base portion. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the center of tie device showing its parts in normal position, and Figs. 3, 4 and 5 represent, in perspective, parts of the device detached therefrom.

In the said drawings like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts in all the figures thereof.

No. 1 represents a hollow bas portion provided, at its upper end with an out wardly extending annular flange 2 for attachment to the car ceiling, its lower end. being open and having an inwardly turned flange 3. in the said opening there is secured a base-member lhaving an annular shoulder 5, which rests on the flange 3, anti a cylindrical portion 6 extending through and below the opening and having a flat Serial No. 627,198.

surface 7 at the bottom thereof. The. top side of the base-member 4 is rounded up wardly toward th center thereof above the shoulder 5, and it is provided with four flutes or grooves 8, located at right angles to each other, the function of which presently will be described.

Below the base-member 4i there is located a bushing 9 having a flat bearing surface 10 adapted to restagainst and co-act with the flat surface 7 of said base-member i and being provided with a screw threaded portion 11 which engages a corresponding screw thread in a casing 12 and forms a cap therefor having a shoulder 13 bearing on the end of the casing 12. At the lower end of and slidably operative within the casing 12 there is a sleeve 14: mounted on a tubular member 15 covering a rod 16 which passes through the bushings 1 1 and 9 and extends thereabove through the base-member 1, terminating in a screw threaded end which engages a correspondingly screw threaded capmembcr 17 the contour of the under side of which conforms to that of the upper side of the base-member t upon whichit seats, the capaneinber 1'? being provided with four rib-members 18 whose contour conforms substantially to that of the, flutes or grooves 8 of the said basemember 4 and which are adapted to register therewith, so that when the hanger is in a perpendicular or normal position, as shown in Figure 2, the rib-members 18 are seated in the said flutes or grooves 8 where they are held under tension of a coiled spring 19 located within the casing, with its upper end hearing against the lower end of the bushing 9 and its lower end bearing against the upper end of the sleeve 14. Experience teaches that in bell cord hangers suspended from the ceilings of moving vehicles and having considerable drop, as for example twelve inches or more, it is necessary to provide means "hereby a limited swinging movement is imparted to the hanger to compensate for the pulling and swaying of the bell rope, thereby to relieve the shocks and strains incident thereto, also that it is necessary to confine such swinging movement substantially to the lengthwise and crosswise directions oi the body of the vehicle to prevent the bell cord or rope trom becoming twisted and tangled up with the hanger.

Referring again to the base-member at the same is provided with a central hole or opening within which the rod 16is free to swing in either of the four directions mentioned, its range of swing being predetermined by the diameter or the said opening the wall oi which serves as an arrester to further movement of the rod. Obviously,

' with the swinging of the rod to and fro the capineinber 17 rocks in unison therewith and it is prevented from turning on its seat by engagement of the ribmembers 18 with a the flutes or grooves 8. it also will be obvition oi. exerting a like influence to hold the cap-member 17' normally in contact with the one that swinging of the rod 16 carries with it the casing 12, including the various parts connected therewith, and that such move;

ment rocks the bushing 9 on the under sur face of the base-member l, as clearly shown in Figure 1.

The lower end of the rod 16 is screw threaded and engages a correspondingly screw threaded member 21 which extends above and forms an integral part of a ring or guide 22 through the opening 23 of which the bell rope passes.

It will. be observed that with the fixture assembled, as shown more clearly in Figure 2, the rod 16 is secured to and rigidly held between the members 17 and 21 and that the ends of the tubular member 15 are held between shoulders 24-25 formed on the sleeve 14 and the member 21 respectively, also that as the sleeve 14- is slidable within the casing 12 the flat surfaces 7 and 10 are normally held in contact with each other by action of the spring 19, Which serves the dual funcbase-member 4. V

I have herein illustrated and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention. I do not, however, limit the same to such exact details grooves in the base-member and to rock thereon, a slidable casing located below said base-member and having its upperend surface in contact with the under surface of said base-member, a bottom portion adapted to receive and carry abell cord, a rod connecting the latter with said cap-member and adapted to rock the same, and means whereby contact of said cap-member and said casing with said base-member is maintained.

2. In a bell cord hanger, the combination of a base adapted to be rigidly attached to a fixed support, a grooved base-member secured within the base at the bottom thereof and having a central opening therein, a capmember normally seated on said base-memher having rib-members adapted to engage the grooves of said base-member and to rock thereon. a bottom portion adapted toreceive and carry a bell cord, a rod connecting the latter with said cap meinber, and a slidable.

casing containing a coiled spring surrounding the said rod and operating to maintaincontact between the said base-member said cap-member and the upper end portion of.

said'casing. a v

In witness thatl claim the toregoingl have hereunto subscribed my name this 17th day of March, 1923.

J OSEPH ECKERT. 

